Governor Dayton Responds to Mayo Dispute With Albert Lea

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - Governor Mark Dayton today weighed in on the controversy over the Mayo Clinic’s move to consolidate some key services offered at the Mayo Clinic Health System hospitals in Albert Lea and Austin. His office issued a joint statement on behalf of of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith. The news release quotes Governor Dayton.

“We have serious concerns about Mayo Clinic’s decision to reduce services at their Albert Lea hospital, and how this decision will impact the community.

The governor also urged the Mayo Clinic to be more open about his plans,

“Mayo Clinic owes it to the Albert Lea community, and any community it serves, to engage the public in an open discussion about the impact of its business decisions on people. Minnesotans in Albert Lea rely on Mayo Clinic for essential care and services, and they deserve an open discussion, especially when a decision like this affects so many.”

Mayo’s announcement of the consolidation plans earlier this summer was nearly immediately met by significant opposition from Albert Lea community members, who came to Rochester in buses last week to stage a demonstration across the street from the main entrance to the Mayo Clinic’s downtown campus. Much of the opposition has been focused on Mayo’s plans to move intensive care unit beds and the birth center in Albert Lea to Austin.

The Mayo Clinic Health System today announced nearly $3.5 million dollars worth of improvements to the Albert Lea Hospital, including a new cooling plant, the addition of short stay observation beds in the Emergency Department and upgrades to the hospital’s behavioral health care and addiction services.